Sirius Telecom is expanding its use of session control technology from Sansay to secure and optimize VoIP and VoIP-to-TDM communications with Sansay's VSX VoIP session controller ensuring maximum performance, security and seamless interoperability in a multi-vendor infrastructure.

Sirius offers hosted switching, collocation and private line services based on its sophisticated next-generation Veraz switch platform interfaced to Sansay's VSX. Dan Maxwell, Executive VP at Sirius says the session controller plays a key part in delivering seamless global services. "The VSX keeps the various IP addresses used by our customers private and lets us deal with the major interoperability issues inherent in VoIP," Maxwell says. "We are often presented with very distinctive requirements and Sansay's responsiveness allows us to support new features and services quickly and reliably. Their support is brilliant."

HelloSoft announces the launch of its VoIP technology for WiMAX System-on-Chip designs. HelloSoft is a leading provider of high-performance VoIP technologies for a plethora of client end points including SOHO Gateways, IP Phones, Dual-Mode Phones and VoIP-enabled SoCs.

WiMAX is emerging as the standard that will have one of the greatest impacts on VoIP in the near future. HelloSoft is keeping up the pace by launching its VoIP for WiMAX initiative.

Skype is now available on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, bringing Skype conversations anywhere in the world where there is an available wireless internet connection (WiFi). Skype for the Nokia N800 will be available for download for existing users. There will also be Skype download links on the latest release of Nokia N800 devices which will be available at retail and on the Skype online store. From coffee shops and public parks to offices to hotels or even on the beach - users will now be able to make Skype calls anywhere they can find a WiFi hotspot.

Digium announces it has acquired Sokol & Associates. Digium has long enjoyed a close relationship with Steve Sokol and his colleagues, all of whom have joined Digium’s team. By acquiring the company, Digium gains an additional channel through which it can communicate Asterisk enhancements to the IT, telephony, software development, reseller and call center professionals who use the software every day.

Digium created, maintains, owns and is the innovative force behind Asterisk, the open source telephony communications software in use by more than two million servers today. Asterisk powers Digium’s family of software and hardware appliances and enables other companies, which often use older versions of the software in their own VoIP products.

OneSuite introduces a new product OS Hybrid. Borrowing the concept from a hybrid car, the new product allows customers to switch calling methods between traditional PSTN and VoIP, enjoy premium services such as fax to email, or make and receive calls on a PC all under one web-based account.

With the launch of OS Hybrid, OneSuite tackles the challenges faced by most VoIP services and traditional phone cards, crossing the digital divide. Once subscribed to OneSuite, frustrated phone card users who can't access the provider's network during major holidays, can now call out or even receive calls through VoIP using the OneSuite Softphone. Equally, VoIP subscribers who rely on Internet connectivity, electricity, or must be glued to their computers to make calls, can now use the same account to call through PSTN when Internet or PC is not available.

VoIP announces that it has launched a beta version of Click4Me, a free web-click calling service available at the Company’s new portal www.click4me.net. The new technology showcases various technology features of VoIP’s network. VoIP has been developing customized applications for SIP, IP, TDM and other projects for over five years. Click4Me allows users to connect to others through free calls without using the PC for actual voice communications, unlike virtually all other web enabled calling services. In addition, there is no need for a person contacting a registered click4me user to be a registered user as well. Click4Me also offers email, instant messaging and other popular calling features.

Ascalade announces that it has begun shipping its Companion Simple VoIP phones to a European service provider for use with its exclusive Internet communication application. The customer's application, specifically configured to the Companion Simple, will offer its subscribers a quick and simple solution for making VoIP calls.

Ascalade collaborated with its customer to ensure its exclusive VoIP application is configured to work seamlessly with the Companion Simple, thereby allowing its European subscribers immediate access to VoIP calling options without the need to download a separate Internet communication software. A user can simply connect the corded Companion Simple VoIP phone to their USB port to make calls through the customer's Internet calling application. Aside from increasing ease-of-use, the Companion Simple also features High Definition sound which offers increased audio clarity for an enhanced interference-free experience.

VoSKY announces the availability of its VoSKY Ultimate BizPak, which combines the new Skype Small Business Pack with its Skype co-branded PBX-to-Skype Gateways to make it even easier for SMBs to use Skype in the business environment.

Skype VoSKY Exchange gateways allow SMBs to improve communication and collaboration while reducing communications costs. With Skype Pro, businesses are able to make zero per minute rated landline calls within UK from standard office phones attached to the company PBX. Connection fees apply. They will also open up SMBs to new opportunities, and enhance interaction with customers and partners that are part of a potential market of 196 million Skype users.

Challenger mobile launches its free global telephony service into the pre-pay realm. All owners of the Eseries, N80ie or N95 handsets can now pay a low monthly fee of $9.90 and get access to the company's NEW features: "Challenger out", "Challenger in" and "Challenger forwarding" - all offering true mobile savings and benefits.

Through the new Challenger out feature, Challenger mobile account holders can easily call both landlines and mobiles all over the world at local rates.

Thrane & Thrane has licensed HelloSoft's award winning VoIP technologies for their next generation EXPLORER handset. HelloSoft provides the most optimized and comprehensive software solution for enabling VoIP on mobile handsets without having to make changes to existing hardware designs.

"We are excited to work with HelloSoft towards the essential VoIP technologies needed to expand applications on the next generation of the EXPLORER handset family," said Lars Lindgreen, Product Manager, of Thrane & Thrane. "By integrating HelloSoft's voice engine, we will be able to provide satellite users the benefits of higher quality voice coupled with superior noise cancellation which is critical for aeronautical, landmobile and maritime applications."

BroadSoft has been named the market leader for voice applications servers by research firm IDC. In its report "Worldwide Voice Application Servers 2006 Market Share Update," IDC identified BroadSoft and its award-winning BroadWorks platform as the market leader in 2006. The research was published as part of IDC's continuous intelligence services that provide written research, analyst interactions, telebriefings, and conferences.

"BroadSoft was the leading supplier and in general has enjoyed the best success in terms of geographic reach, penetration of Tier 1 service providers, and strategic partnerships with Tier 1 NEPs (network equipment providers)," stated Thomas Valovic, program director of VoIP Infrastructure for IDC and author of the report.

The market for consumer VoIP services boomed in 2006, with Europe leading the way, reports In-Stat. Total VoIP subscribers worldwide increased by 34 million subscribers in 2006, the high-tech market research firm says.

“Europe showed the largest gain in consumer VoIP subscribers,” says Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst. “The European consumer VoIP market increased by over 14 million subscribers last year. The European VoIP market is being aided by local loop unbundling, the introduction of cable telephony and triple-play service bundles, as well as operator consolidation. In contrast, US wireline operators added only 4 million VoIP subscribers in 2006. No one seems interested in selling anything other than plain-old-telephone-service”.

I just wanted to wish all my readers a Happy 4th of July. Be safe and remember to keep a fire extinguisher handy when using those sparklers.

Voip.com launches its most aggressive promotional offers for the residential phone market to date. Starting earlier in June, voip.com hit the market with a Lowest Price Guarantee offer for local, long distance and international calls. While the market was still realizing what the offer meant for both consumers and competitors, the internet telephone company released its second shocking wave of summer campaigns by offering $50.00 cash back for residential sign ups.

The Lowest Price Guarantee offer is also a direct aim at low-cost phone carriers that are trying to focus on cheap calling plans. Martin Toha, President of voip.com simply describes the strategy by noting: "We took price out of the equation without sacrificing quality. Now there are truly no more excuses not to use voip.com's services."

Voip.com's Cash Back promotion is a joint effort with recently launched VoipConsumer.org, a VoIP Consumer Guide, to help consumers find the most reliable and most affordable phone services. The rebate offer only comes with voip.com's Unlimited Yearly offer that is already tied to a 'no fees' promotion. On top of the double deal the company added a limited time 'No Catch' disclaimer to the rebate campaign.

Vyke shall soon release an upgrade to its mobile VoIP software that will restore full mobile VoIP functionality to mobile handsets that have been intentionally crippled by mobile operators.

Expected for release in the fourth quarter of 2007, the forthcoming version of Vyke Mobile IP will provide users with a fully functional, stand alone mobile VoIP application that circumvents the mobile operator orchestrated removal of built-in handset VoIP capabilities.

Vyke's long term mobile VoIP strategy is based upon empowering the user to make his or her own choices regarding their communication services. In pursuing this strategy, Vyke has recently announced an agreement with The Cloud Networks Limited, the dominant European metropolitan area wireless network provider, giving Vyke users the ability to access mobile VoIP services across a network of 9,000+ hotspots and 16 large area, metropolitan networks, including such areas as the City of London, Canary Wharf, Manchester and Amsterdam.